Plunger-type fluid distributor



Nov. 25, 1952 H. ETZELT PLUNGER-TYPE FLUID DISTRIBUTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1949 INVENTOR H ZE'LZ 8Z1;

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TTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1952 H. ETZELT PLUNGER-TYPE FLUID DISTRIBUTOR Filed May 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 6 8 m 4 E 20 0&1 A v 1 33 5 27 9 27 3/ 3 Fig.6

INVENTOR JEZlEtzcl-b NOV. 25 1952 'HETZELT 2,619,190

PLUNGER-TYPE FLUID DISTRIBUTOR Filed May 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- PLUNGER-TYPE FLUID DISTRIBUTOR Heinrich Etzelt, Vienna, Austria Application May 16, 1949, Serial No. 93,584 In Switzerland May 21, 1948 14 Claims. 1

the pressure of themedium supplied by a. source of pressure are known per se. In these known constructional forms two plungers having a dot}..- ble-sided action or pairs of plungers connected together to forma unit are controlled in dependence on one another in such a manner that always the motion'of a double-acting plunger'or of a pair of plungers is blocked during the motion of the other unit and that in this way the two units can only operate successively one after the other. The support for these plunger units which are rigid in themselves is provided in the cylinder bores, so that there is the danger of a unilateral loading by the blocking forces, which, owing to the pressure of the fed lubricant being sometimes very high, may lead to difliculties in the working of the distributor and also to wear and fractures.

Moreover, with. such known distributors it has hitherto been only possible to supply up to four lubricating points. In order to feed a greater number of lubricating points, such distributors had to be arranged hydraulically in series, so that from each outlet of the distributor the lubricant had to be conveyed to a further distributor for redistribution. v

Now, the invention relates to plunger-type distributor driven by the medium supplied under pressure, of the kind having two groups of plungers, of which one plunger group is blocked during the motion of the other plunger group. The invention consists more particularly in this, that the plungers of each group are positively guided by a coupling member supported independently of the plungers and that the blocking of the motion of one plunger group takes places during the motion of the other plunger group through blocking the motion of the corresponding coupling member. According to the invention these coupling members are formed by two-armed rocking levers, the arms of which engage the plunger.

The invention provides considerable advantages.

Whereas hitherto one plunger group could comprise only two plungers or one double-acting plunger, it now becomes possible for a larger number of distributor plungers to be guided at each of the coupling members, according to requirement. If, for instance, the coupling members have the form of rocking levers and at each of their arms only two plungers engage, the result is already a distributor with eight outlets. Through the employment of independently supported coupling members or rocking levers, the invention makes it possible so to couple the coupling members or rocking levers of several such distributor systems with one another mechanically that two or more distributor systems combined in this manner to form a unit will operate in synchronism, whereby distributors with an optional number of outlets may be obtained.

Owing to the circumstance, that the plungers.

can be inserted in their bores independently and are only coupled by the coupling members, the manufacture of the distributor and the fitting of the plungers is greatly facilitated.

It is one great advantage of the invention, that the blocking forces act only on the coupling members which are supported independently of the plungers and that the plungers are therefore relieved of lateral forces. The invention thus enables the plungers to be made with a very small cross-section and consequently the volume conveyed by them to be kept very small. It has been found, that with the construction according to the invention it is possible to obtain stroke volumes of the individual distributor plungers, which amount to only a fraction of the stroke volumes obtainable with the known plungertype distributors. The advantage of'the small stroke volumes is due to the circumstance, that with the supply of small quantities of lubricant at short intervals a better and more economical lubrication results, than with larger quantities of lubricant supplied at longer intervals.

According to a preferred constructional form of the invention the plungers associated with the two coupling members formed by rocking levers are inserted from opposite sides in cylindrical bores of the distributor body, which are parallel to the axis, and the rocking levers engaging with the free ends of the plungers are disposed opposite one another at the end sides of the distributor body. These two-armed rocking levers are eachprovided with a third arm, which arms are directed towards one another and coact with one another in the sense of an alternate blocking and release of their motion. The planes of oscillation of the rocking levers are preferably displaced through with respect to one another, so that the plungers guided at their arms are uniformly distributed in the distributor body. Such a constructional form provides a constructionally favourable solution and a compact and space-saving construction of the distributor.

The plunger-type distributor according to the invention is especially suitable for the distribution of oil or grease in pressure-operated lubricating systems, but can also be of use for other media of a liquid or unguentous consistency.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated diagrammatically with references to constructional examples.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show one constructional form of the plunger-type distributor, Fig. 3 representing a section with the cover removed, Fig. l a section on line II of Fig. 3 and Fig. 2 a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows a detail and Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the manner, in which the distributor according to Figs. 1 to 3 operates.

Figs. 6 and 7 show different constructional forms of the blocking member of the distributor.

Fig. 8 shows a plunger-type distributor which,

for obtaining a greater number of outlets, is composed of several distributor systems, and

Fig. 9 is a view showing the distributor in elevation connected to a lubricant pump.

As shown in Figure 9 the distributor d is adapted'to be mounted on an engine or machine (not shown) by a bracket f. A lubricant pump a is periodically operated by a lever b and-the outputof this'pump is connected by a conduit to the distributor-1d. Conduits e extend from the distributor d to elements or parts to be lubricated. A preferred embodiment of the distributor d is shown-invertical sectional view in Figures 1 and 2 and in top plan View (withthe top cover removed) in Figure 3. In the distributor body I are provided the cylinderbores for the distributor plungers 2, 2, 3, 3', 4, 4 and-5, The cylinder bores are arranged so as to be parallel to the axis in a circle around the central axis of the distributor, that is along a cylindrical surface. The plungers 2, 2 and 4, 4' are inserted into the cylinder bores from above-and are guided with their free ends .at the arms of a rocking lever 6 which itself is pivoted on extensions 1 of the distributor body so as to rock aboutthe shaft 8. The ends 9 and ID of the rocking lever arms are provided with cross-heads. or. transverse pins II which engage in recesses I2 of'the distributor'plungersi and guide the latter in a positive manner; The engagement of the rocking lever and. the plunger isishown in'detail inFig. 4.

The plungers 3, 3. and 5, 5. are inserted in the distributor body I from below and a second rocking lever- I3 constructed and supported in the same manner engages in an analogous manner at the free ends of the plungers 3, 3 and 5, 5, guiding them positively. Thus, the plungers 2, 2 are guided by the rocking lever 8 in countermotion to the plungers 4, 4' andthe plungers 3, 3 by the rocking lever I3in counter-motionto the plungers 5', 5.

The two-armed rocking levers I5 and I3 are each provided with a' third arm I4 and I5 respectively. The distributor body I has a central bore l6, into which the arms I4 and I5 extend. In the bore I5 is guided a' ball I! which coacts with the arms I4' and I5. The distances are made such that, on one arm I4 or I5 rocking, the ball will be so displaced thatthe other arm will be blocked in its extreme position. In Fig. 1 the lever arm I4, forinstance, is shown in its extreme righthand position, inwhich the plungers 2, 2' are in the bottom-dead position and the plungers 4, 4 in the upper dead position; At the same time, the ball I! is displaced upwards, so that it will permit the lever I5-to swing, whilst blocking the lever arm I4 in'the extremeposition showmuntil the lever arm I5 has rocked into its extreme position and the ball I! can again escape downwards.

The rocking levers 6 and I3, as the drawing shows, are so arranged that their planes of oscillation are displaced by with respect to one another. In this way, it will be clear from Fig. 3, a uniform distribution of the distributor plungers and the cylinder bores becomes possible. The blocking arrangement formed by the ball [1 could, of course, function, if the planes of oscillation were in different positions.

The spaces I8 and I9 above and below the distributor body I, in which the rocking levers 6 and I3 operate, are closed by covers 20 and 2I. Through theconnection 22 of the cover 20 the pressure oil fed to the distributor enters the space I8 and also fills the space I9 by way of the bore I6. For enabling the oil to pass into the space I9, it is necessary either to provide suitable recesses in the bore IS in the region of the ball II or to by-pass the ball IT by a connecting bore 23, 24. The cover 2| may be of the same construction as the cover 20. As it is inexpedient, however, to feed the pressure oil to the distributor at two points, the spigot 22 of the cover 2| is made solid. In this case the external thread of the connection 22 only serves the purpose of fixing the distributor. At the periphery of the distributor body I are the corresponding outlets 25, through which the oil is conveyed in measured quantities to the lubricating points.

Fig. 5 represents a development and shows diagrammatically the plungers 2, 3, 4 and 5, the rocking levers 6 and I3 adapted to pivot about the points 8. being only indicated diagrammatically. The plungers 2', 3, 4' and 5', which work in exactly the same manner as the plungers 2, 3, 4 and 5, are omitted for the sake of simplicity. The mode of operation of the plungers and the arrangements of the control ducts shall now be described with reference to Fig. 5, the position of the plungers and of the rocking levers being those shown in Fig. 1.

The rocking lever B is blocked in its extreme position, the distributor plunger 2 being in its lower dead position and the distributor plunger 4 in its upper dead position. During this period the rocking lever I3 will rock in the sense of the arrow 25, so that in the position shown the plunger 3 will be on its way upwards and the plunger 5 on its way downwards. All the plungers are provided with control recesses 21. The cylinder bores of the plungers 2 and 4 are closed at the bottom by the cover 2| and the cylinder bores of the plungers 3 and 5 by the cover 20. At the open ends of the cylinder bores there are recesses 28.

The cylinder bores of the plungers 2, 3, 4 and 5 are connected with one another in the manner shown in Fig. 5 by control ducts 29, 30, 3I and 32 and the cylinder bores of the plungers 2, 3, 4 and 5' by the control ducts 29', 30', 3I' and 32.

As already stated, the lubricating oil fed to the distributor is under pressure in the spaces I8 and I9. Hence, all the plungers are loaded by the pressure of the fed-in oil. The control recess 21 ofthe plunger 4 which is in the upper dead position connects the recess 28 with the duct 3|, so that pressure oil will flow into the working space 33 of the plunger 5. At the same time the control recess 21 of the plunger 2 connects the duct 29 with the outlet bore 34 leading to an outlet 25. The oil out of the working space 33 of the plunger 3 is therefore forced by way of the duct 29, the outlet bore 34 and the corresponding outlet 25 to the lubricating point. As the pressure at the outlet point is considerably less than the pressure, at which the oil is conveyed to the distributor, the working space 33 is relieved of pressure, so that the plunger 3 will be forced upwards by the pressure prevailing in the space [9 and the rocking lever 13 will rock in the sense of the arrow 26, drawing down the plunger 5, at the two ends of which there is the same pressure.

As soon as the plunger 3 has reached its upper dead position (seen in Fig. 5) and the plunger 5 its lower dead position, the ball [1 is free to slide downwards (Fig. 1) and liberates the motion of the rocking lever 6 with the plungers 2 and 3, the control recess of the plunger 5 connecting the working space 33 of the plunger 2 by way of the duct 32 with the pressure space l9, Whilst the control recess 21 of the plunger 3 connects the working space 33 of the plunger 4, which is now full, by way of the duct 30 with the outlet bore 34. The series of operations is then repeated in an analogous manner.

Fig. 6 shows another form of blocking member. In place of the ball l1 there are two balls 35 which are supported in an insertion 36. The support 36 for the balls 35 has two grooves 3'! for the passage of the oil. A pin may take the place of these balls. The function of these balls is the same as that of the ball l1.

Fig. 7 shows a construction, in which the arms [4 and I5 block one another by striking directly against one another. In this case it is important, that the planes of oscillation of the rocking levers 6 and I 3 shall be offset with respect to one another by 90. The suitably profiled end of the arm 14, which is shown in its right-hand extreme position, is just freeing the swing of the arm [5 and the arm M will only be able to perform a rocking motion, when the arm [5 is in one of its extreme positions. All these constructional forms ensure that all the distributor plungers can only operate successively one after another.

In the constructional example shown in the drawing each arm of the rocking lever controls two plungers. This arrangement results, as shown by the drawing, in a distributor with eight distributing plungers and eight outlets. The arrangement may, however, be such that only one distributor plunger coacts with each arm of the rocking lever, thus providing a fourfold distributor, or each arm of the rocking lever may engage with several distributor plungers.

The construction according to the invention enables several distributor systems to be mounted in superposition in such a manner that the re- Spective pistons of the two systems drive one another mechanically so as to operate in synchronism. Fig. 8 shows such a construction. Two distributor bodies I and l are disposed in alignment with one another in such a manner that the ends of the plungers 2 and 4 of the distributor I lie so close to the ends of the plungers 3 and 5 that they can strike against one another, whereby the systems are interrelated with one another in such a manner that they are constrained to work in synchronism. The rocking levers 6 and I3 might also be in contact with one another and the two distributors in this way be compelled to operate in synchronism. The two distributor bodies I and i are combined in such a manner that the cover 2| of the distributor l and the cover 20 of the distributor I are removed and replaced by an intermediate piece 38. In this way any optional number of distributor bodies may be joined together and thus distributors with any desired number of outlets obtained.

When an odd number of lubricating points is to be supplied, two outlets 25 can be simply connected together in such a manner that they will deliver into a common lubricating duct. In order in this case as well to ensure the same quantity of lubricant being delivered to all lubricating points, the distributor plungers in question must be made with one half the cross-section, so that there will be half the delivery volume for each of these distributor plungers.

When the lengths of the arms of the twoarmed rocking lever are made different, unequal strokes of the distributor plungers coacting with these arms will result. This arrangement provides the possibility of obtaining with plungers of the same diameter different delivery volumes of the plungers. If desired, these two expedients may be both used and the delivery quantities be varied both by changing the plunger diameter and varying the lengths of the rocking lever arms.

What I claim is:

1. In a plunger-type distributing device for the quantitative distribution of lubricant from a source under pressure, a distributor body, cylindrical bores in the said distributor body, two groups of plungers each including one plunger positioned in a cyindrical bore of each pair, the said cylindrical bores forming working chambers for the said plungers, a lubricant chamber, and a lubricant line connecting the said lubricant chamber to the said source, admission conduits leading from the said lubricant chamber to the said working chambers, discharge openings and discharge conduits leading from the said working chambers to the said discharge openings, the end surfaces of the said plungers within to the said working chambers being exposed to the pressure prevailing in the said lubricant chamber, separate coupling members pivotally mounted in said distributor body independently of said plungers and respectively interconnecting the plungers of the groups, and means for blocking the motion of one coupling member during the motion of the other coupling member.

2. In a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 1, means for connecting two distributing devices and means mounting the coupling member of one distributing device in closely spaced relationship for parallel oscillation by the coupling member of the other distributing device in timed sequence.

3. In a plunger-type distributing device for the quantitative distribution of lubricant from a source under pressure, a distributor body, pairs of cylindrical bores in the said distributor body, two groups of plungers including one plunger positioned in a cylindrical bore of each pair, the said cylindrical bores forming working chambers for the said plungers, a lubricant chamber, a a lubricant line connecting the said lubricant chamber to the said source, admission conduits leading from the said lubricant chamber to the said working chambers, discharge openings and discharge conduits leading from the said working chambers to the said discharge openings, the end surfaces of the said plungers within the said working chambers being exposed to the pressure prevailing in the said lubricant chamber, a first rocking lever pivotally mounted in the said distributor body and having two arms extending from the pivotal point and connected to the plungers of one of said groups and positively guiding same for reciprocatory movement, a second rocking lever pivotally mounted in the said distributor body and having two arms extending from. the pivotal point" and connected to the piungers of the other of said groups and positive- 1y guiding same for reciprocatory movement, and means for blocking the motion of one rocking lever during the motion of the other rocking lever.

4;.Inaplunger-type distributing device for the quantitative distribution of lubricant from a source under pressure, adistributor body, pairs of cylindrical bores in the said distributor body, two groups of plungers each including one plunger positioned in acylindrical bore of each pair, the said cylindrical'bores forming working chambers for the said plungers, a lubricant chamber, a lubricant" line connecting the said lubricant chamber to the said source, admission conduits leading from the saidlubricant chamber to the said working chambers, discharge openings and discharge conduits leading from the said working chambers to the said discharge openings, the end surfaces of the said plungers within the said working chambers being exposed to the pressure prevailing in the said lubricant chamber, a pair ofrocking levers pivotally mounted'on the said distributor body and each having two arms extending from the respective pivotal'point and engaging the plungers of one group, and means for blocking the motion of one rocking lever during themotion of the other rocking lever.

5-. In. a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 4, the two arms of the said rocking levers. each having ends provided with cross pieces, the said cross pieces being connected to the said plungers in an articulated manner.

6; In a'plunger-type distributing device for the quantitative distribution of lubricant from a source under pressure, a distributor body, pairs of cylindrical bores in the said distributor body, two groups of plungers each including one plunger. positioned in the said cylindrical bores of each pair, the said cylindrical bores forming working chambers for the said plungers, a lubricant chamber, and a lubricant line connecting the said lubricant chamber to the said source, admission conduits leading from the said-lubricant chamber to the said working chambers, discharge openings and discharge conduits leading irom'the said working chambers to the said discharge openings, the" end' surfaces of thesaidplungers within the said'working chambers being exposed to the pressure prevailing in the said lubricant chamber, rocking levers, disposedopposite one another'at the ends of the distributor body and pivotally mounted in the said-distributor'bo'dy, sald'rocking levers each having two arms extending'from the respective'pivotal point and connected to the plungers of one of the groups, therebyinterconnecting the plungers of said group and positively guiding; them for reciprocating, movement, and a third-arm on' each ofthe rocking levers, said third arms being directed towards. one

another andcoacting, with one another to effect alternating blocking. and'release of theirmotion. '7. In a plunger-type distributing, device as claimed in claim 6, the said'cylindricallboresofsaid rocking levers being connected to the protruding ends of the said plungers.

8. In a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 6, arslidably supported intermediate member, the said third arms coacting with the said intermediate member and respectively pushing it each time by its rocking motioninto the region of swing of the other third arm, thereby, blocking the motion of the latter during the motion of the former.

9. In a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 6, a slidably supported ball, each of said third arms coacting with the-said'slidably supported ball' and; pushing it each time by its rocking motion into the region of swing of the other third arm, respectively, thereby blocking the motion of the latter during the motion of the former.

10. In a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 6, the planes of oscillation of the said rocking levers beingofiset with respect to one another by 11. Ina plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim 6, the third arms having profiled ends, the said ends of the third arms of both rockin levers extending in the same range of oscillation so that the rocking of one armonly is possible, while the other arm is in one of-its extreme positions.

12. In a plunger-type distributing device as claimed in claim fi, a central bore in the said distributor body, the said third arms extending towards one another into the said central bore, the said'cylindrical boresbeing positioned parallel to each other and to the said central bore, and at equal distances from the said central bore.

13. In a plunger-type distributing device asclaimed in claim 6, control recesses provided in' the said plungers, the said discharge conduits leading from the-working chambers in the bores in which the plungers of one group are positioned tothe discharge openings through the bores in which the pistons of the other-group are positioned, whereby the control recesses in the plungers of the latter group operate as valves in the said discharge conduits.

HEINRICH ETZELT.

REFERENCES I CITED 'lhefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,236 Hillis Oct. 17, 1939 2,007,797 Folke July 9, 1935 2,197,705 Nemetz' Apr. 16, 1940 2,283,638 Klein May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 700,588 France Jan. 2, 1931 

